Maine Principal’s Association decides to continue with three wrestling classes

By Bill Pearson
Staff Writer

    AUGUSTA — There was a possibility that the Dexter Regional and Piscataquis Community high school wrestling teams would follow Foxcroft Academy into Class B next season. The Maine Principal’s Association discussed reducing the high school wrestling from three classes to two. The MPA received several complaints from coaches around the state about the failure for several weight classes in Class B and C to fill out the eight-person regional tournament brackets.

Observer photo/Bill Pearson

    WRESTLING NEWS — Dexter’s Andrew Adams puts a hold on his opponent in last year’s Penobscot Valley Conference wrestling championships. It looks like his team will remain in Class C as discussions to reduce the wrestling classifications from three to two failed to generate significant support. The MPA’s wrestling committee heard complaints from Class B and C coaches last season about several weight classes in the regional qualifying tournaments not filling the bracket with eight wrestlers.

    MPA officials considered returning to the two-class format that predominated the sport in the 1960s. After discussing their options, the MPA wrestling committee decided to retain the current three-class format.
    “There was no actual proposal to reduce the number of classes,” said MPA staff person Gerry Durgin. “However, there was a discussion about the coaches’MPA decides to continue with three wrestling classes concerns about the numbers in both Class B and C wrestling fields.”
    However, there will be some major changes in store for the 2013-14 wrestling season. In Eastern Maine, Foxcroft Academy and Washington Academy are moving from Class C to B. Both school enrollments place them above the 425 cut-off point for Class C. Class B will consist of schools with enrollments between 426-684 students. Foxcroft will have  approximately 480 students next year.
    The MPA is still considering making a major change in the post-season tournament format. The committee may eliminate the regional qualifying tournament which precedes the state championship meet. If the regional tournament is eliminated, wrestlers would qualify for the state championship meet based on their regular season results.
    The wrestling committee is expected to discuss the proposal during their fall meeting.